Top 10 Myths about Dogs That Most Folks Still Believe to Be True

Are you curious about dog behaviour and best practices for pet-parents to keep their pooches in their best states? Do take a look at these 10 dog myths that are surprisingly very common. You just might end up discovering something new about your pet. Enjoy the read!

Myth 1: Stray dogs and shelter dogs are not good enough to be domesticated.

Fact: As long as they are free of disease and not exceptionally aggressive, they would be as great companions as would a pedigree dog. However, it is important to get them checked, sterilized, and possibly analyzed for aggressive traits as well. If they pass it all, embrace them with all your heart – they will return your love and favor in heart-melting ways.

Myth 2: My dog is too old to learn.

Fact: Old dogs respond unbelievably well to training. In fact, they love to get to learn new things. Even if you get a grown dog home that was never trained during her puppy years, she will still learn things appreciably well with the right training and motivation (Another green signal to adopt a homeless canine!).

Myth 3: Dogs are sociable animals and my dog’s reserve might be an indication of some underlying problem.

Fact: Dogs have personalities – some outgoing, some reserved. If your dog falls in the latter, don’t push him into a contradictory role. Take your introverted dog out for walks and for social mingling with a few good pets and people that he is comfortable with, but avoid crowded places like dog parks.

Myth 4: A warm nose means my doggie is ill.

Fact: Noses don’t have much to do with a dog’s health. The only way to tell is by scientifically taking a temperature reading.

Myth 5: If I start training my dog with savoury incentives, it will only spoil her and she will stop responding as soon as the treats stop.

Fact: Motivating with the aid of goodies is not a bad thing. Once she learns, she will follow her new behaviour or activity like a good student and won’t act like a brat asking for the goodie every time!

Myth 6: A wag of the tail means the dog is happy and harmless.

Fact: Not all tail wags imply joy. Some are purely signs of aggression! Twitched tails wagging while held high are more likely to be an expression of aggression than happiness.

Myth 7: If my loyal pooch doesn’t like someone, it is an indicator of something genuinely negative about the person’s intentions.

Fact: Dogs sometimes express aggression out of jealousy or a dislike of the person’s general physical gestures. There may be a few instances when a dog sniffs at a stranger’s character, but generally, it is just a harmless dislike.

Myth 8: She makes that cute guilty face to confess her folly.

Fact: The guilty expression on her face is an attempt to placate you if you look upset with her. Dogs can pick on the subtlest of body language cues and if you appear the least bit unhappy with her, she would have that expression irrespective of whether she is aware of her fault.

Myth 9: My lovely four-legged companion’s saliva will heal my wounds.

Fact: While a dog’s saliva does contain enzymes that may aid healing, it also contains harmful bacteria that may not only make your wound worse but may also give you severe infections. Therefore, seeking the ancient remedy of a dog’s healing powers is not worth the risk in today’s world of omnipresent disease-causing microbes – an anti-bacterial, medicines, and bandages are infinitely better!

Myth 10: My dog will communicate her illness to me. I don’t really need to be on a constant check.

Fact: Even though they are domestic creatures safe in their homes, dogs still possess some of their primate instincts of surviving in the wild. Therefore, they may perceive their illness as a weakness and may try to hide it.